Bunny ears or Golden bristle cactus
Scientific name: Opuntia microdasys
Description
- Dense shrub 40 to 60 centimetres tall, occasionally more.
- Stems are pad-like, 6 to15 centimetres long, 4 to 12 centimetres wide.
- No central stem, pads always grow in pairs, giving appearance of bunny ears.
- Has no spines, but instead has numerous white or yellow glochids (hair-like prickles), 2 to 3 millimetres long, in dense clusters.
- Flowers are yellow, 3 centimetres wide.
- Fruits are fleshy, globular, 3 centimetres long, red-purple.
Weed status – Restricted invasive category 2, 3, 4 and 5
Bunny ears or Golden bristle cactus is a category 2, 3, 4 and 5 restricted invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
It must not be kept, moved, given away, sold or released into the environment.
All sightings of bunny ears must be reported to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours of the sighting. You must take all reasonable and practical measures to minimise the biosecurity risks associated with dealing with bunny ears under your control.
Control method
Manual Removal
Manual control uses hands or hand tools to control weeds.
This can be an effective control as it can minimise soil disturbance and can instantly remove the entire weed.